The vote comes some two weeks after Senate Democrats and Republicans reached a compromise ending a long standoff that had seen Republicans stall President Barack Obama administration appointments by threatening to filibuster.

A commercial and employment litigator, Wolford is a partner of the Wolford Law Firm LLP. Her nomination now goes to the full Senate.

The Rochester U.S. District Court is staffed by one active judge, District Judge Frank Geraci, who took the seat in January. District Judges Michael Telesca, David Larimer and Charles Siragusa are on senior status, meaning they are retired but continuing to work and could leave the bench with pensions and benefits at any time.